After delicately crafting a CV, job applicants will be faced with another tricky dilemma; producing a cover letter that will capture the attention of employers. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, job hunters need to work even harder to differentiate themselves from other applicants; and a good cover letter can often be the difference between receiving an invitation to interview and your application being consigned to the scrapheap.

Whether you’re attempting to find office jobs, law jobs or finance jobs, most companies will request a cover letter so they can ascertain your suitability for the job. Read on for some insights into the secrets behind a good cover letter.

Cover Letters: Information for Writing a Cover Letter

Pitching a cover letter can be challenging; it’s always hard to offer a potential employer a portrait of your employment credentials in the space of a few paragraphs. For that reason, it’s generally a good idea to draft a cover letter several times before finally sending it out to ensure all the relevant details have been included.

The job hunting process can be rife with frustrations, particularly if your first few applications are met with rejections. However, avoid becoming disheartened, as the experience can actually allow you to dwell on the reasons that your application is not getting noticed; perhaps the tone of the letter seems a little stilted or some of the content is irrelevant. Keep working on a number of revisions until you feel completely confident with the message that you are keen to portray.

Never send a speculative cover letter, as this is often the fastest route to rejection. Aside from providing details on your work experience, part of the letter should demonstrate some interest in the employer and their activities, and how your skills could be of benefit to the company itself. Adding this personal touch should ensure your letter reads better than the average candidate.

Finally, perseverance and persistence are key attributes for any job hunter, so even if you receive several knockbacks along the way keep drafting fresh cover letters, as with experience, you’ll quickly learn how to present your case in a concise, efficient manner.